Washer-drier condenser system



June 26, 1962 Filed Dec. 6, 1957 J. C. MELLINGER ET AL WASHER-DRIERCONDENSER SYSTEM 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 M H I I, K i l L M J H4 Awmwrs John."W\ellin at June 26, 1962 J.-c. MELLINGER ET AL 3,040,440

WASHER-DRIER CONDENSER SYSTEM Filed Dec. 6, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 :9Q1311 gwarl'in June 26, 1962 J. c. MELLINGER ET AL 3,040,440

WASHER-DRIER CONDENSER SYSTEM Filed Dec. 6, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 /4 I/76 Q /47 25 J )9 j qwerty June 26, 1962 J. c. MELLINGER ETAL 3,

WASHER-DRIER CONDENSER SYSTEM 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 6, 1957 UnitedStates Patent 3,040,440 WASHER-DRIER CONDENSER SYSTEM John C. Mellingerand Paul A. Martin, Newton, Iowa, assignors to The Maytag Company,Newton, Iowa, a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 6, 1957, Ser. No.701,131

18 Claims. (Cl. 34-75) This invention relates to a washer-drier capableof washing and drying fabrics and incorporating structure forcirculating air through a revoluble clothes drum as well as removing thelint from and condensing out entrained moisture carried in the aircirculated in this combination unit during its drying operations.

In the accompanying illustrative drawings, this is accomplished byproviding a tubular casing with a false back spaced from the rear wallof the casing and journaling a drum shaft in a bearing carried by thesespaced wall members. A revoluble drum including perforate side and rearwalls is connected to this drum shaft and is positioned between thefront casing wall and its false back to provide a means for tumbling thefabrics during both the washing and drying operations.

During the drying operations for this combination unit a heating unit,positioned adjacent the drum and enclosed by a heater housing hoodformed as an enlargement in the casing side wall so as to span the falseback of the casing, evaporates moisture retained within fabrics placedwithin the clothes drum. The evaporated moisture is withdrawn throughthe perforate rear wall of the drum and through an opening in the falsecasing back by means of a revoluble impeller member mounted betweenthese spaced rear casing walls where its entrained moisture is condensedby contact with a misty fog produced by the impinging of cooling fluidagainst the revolving blades of the impeller which is partially enclosedby a scrollshaped member spanning these spaced rear walls andcooperating with them to form a blower housing for this impeller member.

All of the condensing of the moisture vapors contacting this misty fogtakes place within this blower housing while the fluid separation fromthe air discharged from this blowerhousing is achieved by moving thisair through a series of curved baflle plates so sharply reverse itsdirection of travel to effect a centrifugal separation of moisturedroplets carried in this air prior to its recirculation through theheater housing and perforate drum side wall for the evaporation ofadditional moisture from fabrics carried within the clothes drum.

The lint produced by tumbling of the fabrics within the drum and carriedinto the blower housing during this air circulation is scrubbed fromthis air by the misty spray produced by the impingement of the coolingfluid against the blades of the revoluble impeller member within theblower housing. The lint scrubbed from the air in this manner is flushedfrom the blowerhousing and drains to a lower portion of the casingtogether with the condensing fluid and its resulting condensate to bedischarged to an external drain. It is possible, therefore, to utilizethis invention in a combination washer-drier having a closed path airflow system requiring no venting of either air or moisture vapors fromthe combination unit.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation of a combination washer-drier, partiallybroken away, incorporating our invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation, partially broken away, showing the rightside of the combination washer-drier illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sideelevation, partially broken away,

showing the left side of the combination washer-drier shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a rear elevation, partially broken away, of the combinationwasher-drier unit shown in FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 55 of FIGURE 4;

' FIGURE 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 ofFIGURE 4 showing the vapor condenser and air fan assembly of thecombination washer-drier shown in FIGURES 1-"4; and,

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the supporting hubstructure shown in FIGURE 5.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, it will be seenthat the combination washer-drier unit shown in these drawings includesa substantially flat sur faced base frame 10 mounted on legs 11. Mountedupon base frame 10 are the channel members 13 and 14 which are welded orsecurely aflixed in some suitable manner to the base frame 10 to formthe two major supports for the washer-drier unit illustrated in theaccompanying figures.

As apparent from an inspection of FIGURES 1 and 4 channel members 13 and14 are substantially triangular in elevational configuration with theapex of these members receiving pivot pins 16 and 17. These pivot pins16 and 17 are journaled in the flanged bearing sleeves 18 and 19,respectively, which form a two-point support for the tub brackets 21 and22, respectively. This allows the tub or casing which is generallyindicated by the arrow 24, and which is fastened to the brackets 21 and22, to oscillate back and forth on pins 16 and 17 in an arcuate movementin response to various forces generated within that tub. i

- Tub 24 is maintained in an upright position on pins 16 and 17 by thetwo centering springs 25 connected between tub 24 and base 10 throughthe spring anchor brackets 26 fastened to the latter member. FIGURES land 3 show the tub 24 as being provided with a tub damper bracket 28which forms the support for the damper leaf spring 29 carrying thedamper pad 31 in a ball and socket joint at the end of damper spring 29.Base frame 10 is provided with an upstanding damper plate 32 which isengaged by the damper pad 31 to absorb and dissipate the energy impartedto tub 24 causing it to oscillate on the supporting pivot pins 16 and17.

Tub or casing 24 includes a generally cylindrical side wall 71, a pairof spaced rear walls 72 and 73 and a front wall 74, The front and outerrear walls 74 and 72, respectively, are connected to the cylindricalside wall 71 by means of the encompassing flanged hoop-like members 76while the partition wall or false tub back 73 positioned between walls72 and 74 is Welded to side wall 71. It will be seen from an inspectionof FIGURE 5 that the spaced rear walls 72 and 73 support the tub hearingassembly generally indicated by the reference numeral 80 and shown indetail in FIGURE 7. V

The tub bearing assembly 80 includes a spacer hub 81 which is locatedbetween and which abuts the rear walls 72 and 73, and the threaded clampmember 82 receiving the spanner clamp nut 83 which, when tightened onmember 82, produces a rigid support for the bearings 85 and 86 adjacentwalls 72 and 73, respectively. A spacer sleeve 88 loosely encircling thedrum drive shaft 89 regulates the spacing between these bearings whichjournal drum drive shaft 89.

The rear end of the drum drive shaft 89 is rigidly connected to thelarge drive pulley 91 whereas its front end is threaded into the hub 94of the drum or clothes receptacle 95. Drum 95 includes a perforate rearwall 96 which is rigidly aifixed to and cooperates with the spider-likemember 97 to form a double cone support connected to the hub 94 andproviding a rigid support for the clothes basket 95 on drum drive shaft89. A sealing member 101 including a carbon nose ring 102 pressedagainst the rear surface of this revoluble hub structure by coil spring103 prevents water from the washing action carried on within tub 24 fromdamaging bearings 85 and 86.

As apparent from an inspection'of FIGURE 5, the clothes drum 95 alsoincludes a perforate cylindrical side wall 104 carrying clotheselevating vanes 105. Side wall 104 merges into the short front wall 106and joins the flanged rear wall 96 in an overlapping relationship toform a protruding flange 108 which, While not touching wall 73,cooperates with that wall 73 to form an effective air seal to preventheated air entering tub 24 through cylindrical side wall 71 during thedrying operations from being short circuited around the rear peripheraledge of drum 95.

Tub 24 includes a lower recessed portion 111 which forms the sump fortub 24. Sump 111 communicates with the drain pump 112 and includes aperforate tray 114 for preventing foreign particles passing through theperforate drum 95 into tub 24 from entering and damaging pump 112. Tray114 is removable from. its positions shown in FIGURE through the drumaccess door 115 provided in the side wall 104.

Tub 24 also includes the circular loading opening 117 which is encircledby the bellows seal 118 having its opposite end fastened to a similaropening formed in the cabinet 119 enclosing this combination unit.Sealing member 118 includes a number of convolutions permitting arcuatemovement of tub 24 relative to cabinet 119. A rectangular door 121hinged on cabinet 119 carries a transparent door glass 122 having acylindrical portion extending rearwardly through the bellows seal 118which is provided with a flexible annular sealing lip 1'24 engageablewith the periphery of the glass door 122. This seals the unit whileenabling the operator of the machine to observe the operations takingplace within tub 24 during the washing and drying processes. The lamp126 fastened to the exterior of tub 24 shines through a transparentmember 127 carried in tub 24 for illuminating the interior of thatmember during the loading operations of this machine.

Tub 24 also includes a heater housing 131 which may be formed separatelyor as a part of the casing side wall and which supports a heatingelement 132 capable of radiating heat energy through an opening locatedin the cylindrical tub wall 71 and covered by the heater housing 131.Heater housing 131 also mounts the thermostat 133 which is connected inseries with heater 132. A louvered shielding member 134 carried by tub24 and positioned between heater housing 131 and the heating element 132creates a divided air flow into tub 24. This maintains housing 131 in arelatively cool condition and directs a major portion of the heat fromheating element 132 into the clothes drum 95 by way of the perforateside wall 104.

The power necessary to rotate drum 95 through the large pulley 91 isapplied by the single speed motor 137 mounted on bracket 138 carried ona lower portion of tub 24. The output shaft of motor 137 is connected toa flexible universal coupling 139 which is connected in turn to thetransmission input shaft 140 constituting an extension of the motorshaft.

A split pulley 141 having a pair of axially separable sheaves splined toeach other is rigidly connected to shaft 140 through one of its sheaves.The other sheave is constantly biased toward the shaft connected sh'eave by means of the compression spring 142 which encircles the shaftextension 140. This arrangement automatically regulates the tension inthe small belt 144 which regulates the drain pump 112 whenever motor 137is energized.

Shaft extension 140 also drives the two-speed transmission unit 145 andthe pulley 146 affixed to the end of that portion of shaft 140 extendingcompletely through transmission 145. Transmission 145 is provided withan output pulley 147 which is connected to the large drum shaft pulley91 through belt 148. In the illustrative embodiment shown in theaccompanying drawings, an energization of the solenoid 149, whichcontrols the output speed of pulley 147, causes the clothes receptacleto be rotated at a speed of approximately 300 revolutions per minutewhile the deenergization of that solenoid causes receptacle 95 to tumbleits contents at approximately 50 revolutions per minute.

The pulley 146 affixed to the end of shaft is connected to the fanpulley 151 through the belt 152 so as to drive pulley 151 at a speedapproximately equal to that of motor 137. As shown in FIGURE 6, pulley151 is rigidly connected to an impeller shaft 155 which is journnaled ina bearing 156 supported by the removable circular plate 157 bolted tothe rear walls 72 of tub 24.

A combination transmission support and belt tensioning device isprovided by the slotted bracket 158 which is connected to the rear wall72 through the adjustable machine screws 159. Bracket 158 journals shaft140 allowing the transmission unit 145 to pivot freely around thebearing receiving that latter shaft. By moving the transmission unit 145and its mounting bracket 158 away from the fan pulley 151, the slack maybe taken out of belt 152. The slack is automatically taken out of thetumbler drive belt 148 by means of the compression spring 161 mountedbetween bracket 15S and the transmission unit 145 and tending to pivotthe transmission 145 downwardly around shaft 140. The tension in thedrain pump belt 144 is automatically maintained during these adjustmentsby means of the spring biased split pulley 141.

A combination blower-condenser unit capable of moving air through tub24, scrubbing lint from this air and condensing out the moisture fromhot vapors produced within casing 24 during its drying operations ispositioned in the compartment formed by and between portions of thespaced walls 72 and 73. As shown in FIGURE 6, the partition wall 73 isprovided with a flanged opening 163 which receives a rubber annularextension ring 164 terminating just short of the blades of an impellermember 165 fixed to the impeller shaft 155. Ring 164 is provided with aresilient lip encompassing the flange 162 formed on opening 163 andcooperates with that latter opening to define an orifice having astreamlined cross section for reducing air turbulence andconsequentlycooling fluid splashback through opening 163.

A housing for the impeller is produced by the cooperation of walls 72and 73 with an imperforate scrollshaped side wall 166 shown on dottedlines in FIGURE 4, which bridges the space between walls 72 and 73 toenclose the separate vapor condenser and blower unit formed betweenthese walls. A condenser water pipe 167 directed toward the hub ofimpeller 165 allows the latter member to break up the stream ofcondensing fluid discharged from the condenser pipe 167 and thereby pr0-duces a cool mist, spray and fog for condensing out hot moisture vaporsentering this blower condenser unit through opening 163 during thedrying operations of this combination machine. Parts within this blowerhousing may be cleaned, adjusted or easily replaced in some cases byremoving plate 157.

A series of small curved moisture entraining baffle plates 168 and ahorizontal baffle plate 169, shown in the broken away portion of FIGURE4 also bridge walls 72 and 73 to centrifugally separate out the dropletsof moisture carried in the air leaving the blower'condenser unit andentering the heater housing unit 131 for reheating and recirculationthrough tub 24 and clothes drum 95. These plates 168 and 169 are notconcerned with any vapor condensing function as that function iscompletely accomplished within the confines of members 71, 72, 73 and166. Members 168 and 169 do, however, prevent excess moisture in fluidform from being carried into heater housing 131.

The water for the vapor condensing operation is supplied through theexternal conduit 172 while water for the washing operation is suppliedthrough the conduit 173 which empties into the cup 174 provided with aflapper check valve 175 and draining into tub 24 between walls '73 and74. Flapper valve 175 not only prevents suds from escaping from cup 174during the washing operation but also prevents steamy vapors fromescaping from within the front washing and drying chamber of tub 24 andcondensing on the cooler interior surfaces of cabinet 119. Since thereis a tendency to compress air within the front chamber due to theexpansion of heated air and due to the pumping action of the tumblingfabrics within drum 95, the flapper check valve 177 covering the vaporbreathing hole 178 in rear wall 72 is provided. This allows air toescape from tub 24 in a unidirectional breathing action through thesetwo flapper check valves 175 and 177 without producing condensation onthe cabinet surfaces since the air escaping through breather hole 178 iscooled by the blower condenser unit within scroll 166 before beingdischarged through aperture 178.

Since sump 111 which receives the washing and condensing fluidsdischarged into casing 24 is positioned between walls 73 and 74, a smalldrain aperture 176 is provided in wall 73 to enable the condensingfluid, its resulting condensate and the lint scrubbed from the airentering the combination blower-condenser unit to pass into sump 111 andinto the drain pump 112 for discharge to an external drain. While notshown in detail in the accompanying drawings, a valve is providedbetween sump 111 and the drain pump 112 in order to retain the wash ingfluids within casing 24- during the washing operations of this machine.

It should be noted that since the function of drain aperture 176 is todrain fluids from the space between walls 72 and 73, its size and shapeis dictated by the quantity of liquid flowing through it and thepossible efiects of lint accumulation in this area. A conduit leadingfrom a drain port in the lowest portion of side wall 71 to sump 111 ordirectly to a valve communicating with an external drain wouldaccomplish a similar function. An oversize aperture or conduit in,through or around wall 73 would have the undesirable eflect of shortcircuiting unheated air into the clothes receptacle '95 during thedrying operations.

In operation, during the washing operation Warm Water is fed into casing24 to the desired fluid level through conduit 173. Drum 95 and its loadof fabrics is then rotated at a tumbling speed in this body of fluid toeifect a conventional tumbling and cleansing action which is followed bya series of rinses and centrifuging operations to leave the fabrics in adamp dry condition at the start of the drying operation. This washingoperation will tend to wash the lower portion of casing 24, includingthat portion between walls 72 and 73, free of any lint which may haveremained in this casing after a previous drying operation.

In order to aid in this lint flushing operation, the rear wall 96 ofdrum 95 is provided with four Water scoops 179 located adjacent each ofthe legs of spider member 97 so that each revolution of drum 95 willcause each scoop into the blower housingv formed by the cooperation ofscrool 166 with walls 71, 72 and 73. The moisture vapors entering thisblower housing which partially encompasses 179 to carry a small chargeor" fluid from the lower porfaces within scroll 166 as well as theadditional areas between walls 72 and 73 normally traversed bycondensing fluid during the drying operations.

During the drying operation when heat is applied to the fabrics withindrum 95 by the energization of heater 132,

an evaporation of moisture from these fabrics takes place.

Since the impeller 165 rotates whenever drive motor 137 is energized,the resulting moisture vapors are drawn through opening 163 in the falseback and are carried impeller 165, is cooled and condensed due to itsintimate contact with the misty spray produced by the impingement ofcooling fluid flowing through tube 167 onto the hub of the rotatingimpeller 165 which is also driven by motor 137. It will be apparent fromFIGURE 6 that the impingement of this cooling-fluid against the hub ofimpeller 165 rather than against the blades themselves will reduce theamount of splashback through opening 163.

While the efiiciency of this condenser unit is dependent upon manydesign factors, tests have shown that uni-ts built in accordance withthe illustrative drawings condense out all of the moisture removed fromthe air during its circulation between walls 72 and 73 by the time thatthe air leaves the eflluent opening 181) formed by the cooperation ofthe lower end of scroll 166 with its adjacent casing walls.

Since the air leaving drum and entering the housing formed within scroll166 encounters -a violent misty spray which thoroughly scrubs the airenteringthat blower housing free of any suspended particles, allair-borne lint entering opening 163 is thoroughly scrubbed from the airand saturated with cooling fluid prior to the time that the air leaveseflluent port 189.

While most of the cooling fluid, condensate and lint discharged from theblower housing formed between walls 72 and 73 is discharged throughopening 176 and sump 111 to drain, the air flow through this combinationunit which is approximately cubic feet per minute has a tendency, due tothe restricted area of eflluent opening of that blower housing, toproduce some carry-over of the smaller moisture particles past opening176.

In order to separate these smaller moisture particles and any lintcarried by them from the air stream prior to its re-entry into heaterhousing 131, that air stream is passed through a series of small curvedmoisture entraining baffle plate 168 which causes a sharp reversal ofthe air flow to take place after it is discharged from the blowerhousing between walls 72 and 73. This reversal of air flow, which isdirected approximately toward-s the rotational axis of drum 95 causesthese moisture particles to become centrifugally separated from the airstream with the result that they are caughton these baflies 163 .toreduce the total moisture content of the air as it travels upwardlybetween walls 72 and 73.

The positioning of baflle 169 between walls '72 and i 73 represents anadditional means for preventing the air leaving baflies 168 fromprogressing directly toward heater housing 131. Baffle 169 requires theair passing from the blower housing and baffle members 168 to progressupwardly between scroll 166 and the end of baflle 169 as it passesaround the tub bearing assembly 80.

Air progressing upwardly in this diagonal direction must again reverseits direction of travel prior to entry into heater housing 131 therebypresenting an additional opportunity for residual droplets to beseparated from the air stream prior to its entry into housing 131. Sincethese particles tend :to gravitate toward scroll 166, this latter memberhas in actual practice been slightly spaced from side wall 71 to allowthese droplets to drain to the bottom of casing 2 1- and pass throughopening 176. It should also be stated at this point that in actualpractice, scroll 166 and 'baffles 163 and 169 have been rigidly afixedto the rear wall 72 and have extended toward but have not contacted thefalse back 73 at all apparent junction points between these membersbecause of manufacturing tolerances even though for all practicalpurposes these members 166, 168 and 169 do: span or bridge the spacebetween walls 72 and 73.

While not shown in the accompanying drawings, it is Within the scope ofthis invention to vary the shape and positioning of the various moistureentraining bafl'les between walls 72 and 73. This would include theaddition of baffles similar to but in the reverse of baffies 168 to beplaced above hub assembly 80 diagonally of battles 168 in order to moredirectly deflect the air flow toward heater housing 131. It isrecognized, however, that the positioning of such additional bafliesbetween walls 72 and 73 must be done with caution to prevent unnecessarymoisture carry-over into heater housing 131.

While this invention is primarily directed to closed air circuit dryingapparatus, its teaching may also be applied to those vented machines inwhich either or both vapor condensing or lint removal functions aredesired.

This application relates to subject matter disclosed but not claimed inthe copending John C. Mellinger application Serial No. 686,450, filedSeptember 26, 1957 and assigned to the same assignee as that for theinstant invention.

We claim:

1. Clothes drying apparatus comprising, a casing including a side walland spaced front and rear walls, a partition wall connected to saidcasing between said front and rear walls, a revoluble perforate clothesdrum positioned within said casing between said front and partitionwalls, heating means for evaporating moisture from damp fabrics placedwithin said drum, a heater housing enclosing said heating means toprovide a means of communication between said perforate drum and thespace between said rear casing wall and said partition wall, an openingin said partition wall, a revoluble impeller positioned adjacent saidopening between said rear casing wall and said partition wall for movingmoisture vapors from said drum through said perforate drum and saidopening, conduit means for impinging cooling fluid against said impellerto disperse said cooling fluid into a mist to con dense out moisturevapors passing from said drum through said opening, a drain port spacedfrom said opening for draining cooling fluid and condensate from saidcasing, a scroll positioned between said rear casing wall and saidpartition wall and partially encompassing said impeller to confine thevapor condensing operation within said scroll, said scroll cooperatingwith said casing and said partition wall to form a blower housingprovided with an efliuent opening communicating with said heater housingthrough space between said rear casing wall and said partition wall, andmeans for rotating said impeller to produce a closed circuit air flowthrough said opening, blower housing, heater housing and said drum.

2. Clothes drying apparatus comprising, a casing including a side walland spaced front and rear walls, a partition wall connected to saidcasing between said front and rear walls, a revoluble clothes drumpositioned within said casing between said front and partition walls,said drum including perforate side and rear walls and thc flangeprojecting from said drum to restrict air flow around the rear of saiddrum, heating means for evaporating moisture from damp fabrics placedwithin said drum, a heater housing enclosing said heating means and connected to said casing to provide a means of communication between saidperforate drum side wall and the space between said rear casing wall andsaid partition wall, an opening in said partition wall, a revolubleimpeller positioned adjacent said opening between said rear casing walland said partition wall for moving moisture vapors from said drumthrough said perforate rear drum Wall and said opening, conduit meansfor impinging cooling fluid against said impeller to disperse saidcooling fluid into a mist to condense out moisture vapors passing fromsaid drum through said opening, a drain port spaced from said openingfor draining cooling fluid and condensate from said casing, a scrollpositioned between said rear casing wall and said partition Wall andpartially encompassing said impeller to confine the vapor condensingoperations within said scroll, said scroll cooperating with said casingand said partition wall to form a blower housing provided with aneflluent opening communicating with said heater housing through thespace between said 8 rear casing wall, said partition wall, and meansfor rotating said impeller to produce a closed circuit air flow throughsaid opening, blower housing, heater housing and said drum.

3. Clothes drying apparatus comprising, a casing including a side walland spaced front and rear walls, a partition wall connected to saidcasing between said front and rear walls, a perforate revoluble clothesdrum positioned within said casing between said front and said partitionwalls, heating means for evaporating moisture from damp fabrics placedwithin said drum, a heater housing mounted on said side wall andenclosing said heating means to provide a means of communication betweensaid perforate drum and the space between said rear easing wall and saidpartition wall, an opening in said partition wall, a revoluble impellerpositioned adjacent said opening between said rear casing wall and saidpartition wall for moving moisture vapors from said drum through saidopening, conduit means for impinging cooling fluid against said impellerto condense out moisture vapors passing from said drum through saidopening, a drain port spaced from said opening for draining coolingfluid and condensate from said casing, a scroll positioned between saidrear casing wall and said partition wall and partially encompassing saidimpeller to confine the vapor condensing operations within said scroll,said scroll cooperating with said casing and said partition wall to forma blower housing provided with an effluent opening communicating withsaid heater housing through the space between said rear casing wall andsaid partition wall, baffle means positioned within said space forchanging the direction of air discharged from said housing tocentrifugally separate droplets of fluid carried in said air, and meansfor rotating said impeller to produce a closed circuit air flow throughsaid opening, blower housing, heater housing and said drum.

4. Clothes drying apparatus comprising, a casing including a side walland spaced from and rear walls, a partition member connected to saidcasing between said front and rear walls, a revoluble clothes drumpositioned within said casing between said front and partition walls,said drum including perforate side and rear walls and a flangeprojecting from said drum to restrict air flow around the rear of saiddrum, heating means for evaporating moisture from damp fabrics placedwithin said drum, a heater housing formed in said casing side wall andenclosing said heating means to provide a means of communication betweensaid perforate drum side wall and the space between said rear casingWall and said partition wall, an opening in said partition wall, arevoluble impeller positioned adjacent said opening between said rearcasing wall and said partition Wall for moving moisture vapors from saiddrum through said perforate rear drum wall and said opening, conduitmeans for impinging cooling fluid against said impeller to disperse saidcooling fluid into a mist to condense out moisture vapors passing fromsaid drum through said opening and to scrub airborne lint from saidvapor, a drain port spaced from said opening for draining cooling fluid,lint and condensate from said casing, a scroll positioned between saidrear casing wall and said partition wall and partially encompassing saidimpeller to confine the vapor condensing operations within said scroll,said scroll cooperating with said casing and said partition wall to forma blower housing provided with an eflluent opening communicating withsaid heater housing through the space between said rear casing wall andsaid partition wall, a plurality of spaced baflie members positionedwithin said space for changing the direction of air discharged from saidhousing to centrifugally separate droplets of fluid carried in said air,and means for rotating said impeller to produce a closed circuit airflow through said opening, blower housing, heater housing and said drum.

5. Clothes drying apparatus comprising, an imperforate casing includingfront and rear walls and a generally tubular side wall interconnectingsaid front and rear walls,

a partition located intermediate said front and rear walls and coactingwith said side wall to define front and rear chambers, a perforateclothes drum positioned within said front chamber for receiving andtumbling damp fabrics, a drain opening in said casing, a second openingin said casing in said partition at a higher elevatonal level than thatof said drain opening, an impeller positioned between said rear wall andpartition adjacent said second opening for moving moisture vapors fromsaid drum through said second opening, a scroll member positionedbetween said rear wall and partition and partially encompassing saidimpeller to form a blower housing with said casing for said impeller,conduit means for impinging cooling fluid against said impeller forcondensing said moisture vapor and scrubbing lint from air entering saidblower housing through said second opening, means for rotating saidimpeller to produce a unidirectional air flow from said drum throughsaid second opening and said blower housing and means for heatingmoisture free air for evaporating moisture from said fabrics.

6. Clothes drying apparatus comprising, a casing including a pair ofupstanding rear walls, a perforate clothes drum positioned within saidcasing for receiving damp fabrics to be tumbled wthin said drum, a,drain opening in said casing, a second opening in said casing in one ofsaid rear walls at a higher elevational level than that of said drainopening, an impeller positioned between said rear walls adjacent saidsecond opening for moving moisture vapors from said drum through saidsecond opening,

a scroll member positioned between said rear walls and partiallyencompassing said impeller to form a blower housing with said casing forsaid impeller, conduit means for impingng cooling fluid against saidimpeller for condensing said moisture vapors and scrubbing lint from airentering said housing through said second opening, means for rotatingsaid impeller to produce a unidirectional air flow through said drum byway of said second opening and said housing, a plurality of curvedbaffle plates spanning said upstanding rear walls for changing thedirection of air discharged from said blower housing to centrifugallyseparate droplets of fluid carried in thev air discharged from saidblower housing and means for heating moisture free air for evaporatingmoisture from said fabrics.

'7. Clothes drying apparatus comprising, an imperforate casing havingspaced apart front and rear Walls interconnected by a continuouslyformed side wall, a partition spaced from said rear wall and connectedto said side wall to define front and rear chambers, said partitionbeing in sealed relation with said sidewall to isolate the front andrear chambers in the area of partition to side wall attachment, aperforate drum located within said front chamber, means for evaporatingmoisture from said fabrics, said partition provided with an openingtherein, a scroll-shaped member spanning said partition and rear walland cooperating therewith to define a blower housing, a revolubleimpeller member mounted within said blower housing, means for rotatingsaid impeller to move air-borne lint and moisture vapors from said druminto said blower housing through said opening, and conduit means forimpinging cooling fluid against said impeller to condense said moisturevapors and scrub lint from air entering said blower housing through saidopening.

8. Clothes drying apparatus comprising, a perforate driun including aperforate rear wall, enclosure means enclosing said drum and defining adrying chamber for damp fabrics placed within said drum, meansrestricting air flow around the rear of said drum;means for evaporatingmoisture from said fabrics, said enclosure means including a first wallprovided with an opening communicating with the interior of said drumthrough said perforate rear wall, a second wall spaced from said firstwall, a scroll-shaped member spanning said first and second walls andcooperating therewith to define a blower housing, a revoluble impellermounted within said blower housing, means for rotating said impeller formoving airborne lint and moisture vapors from said drum into said blowerhousing through said opening, and conduit means for impinging coolingfluid against said impeller to condense said moisture vapors and toscrub lint from air entering said blower housing through said opening.

9. The invention of claim 8 in which baffle members are attached to atleast one of said first and second walls to centrifugally separatedroplets of cooling fluid carried in the air passing through said blowerhousing.

10. Clothes drying apparatus comprising, a perforate drum, enclosuremeans enclosing said drum and defining a drying chamber for damp fabricsplaced within said drum, means for evaporating moisture from said drum,said enclosure means including a first wall provided with an openingtherein, an annular member connected to said first wall and encompassingsaid opening and cooperating therewith to define an orifice haivng across-sectional contour minimizing turbulance of air passing throughsaid opening, a second wall spaced from said first wall, a third wallmember spanning said first and second walls and cooperating therewith todefine a blower housing hav ing said orifice as its inlet, a revolubleimpeller mounted within said blower housing, means for rotating said impeller for moving air-borne lint and moisture vapors from said drum intosaid blower housing through said orifice, and conduit means forimpinging cooling fluid against said impeller to condense said moisturevapors and scrub lint fro-m air entering Said blower housing throughsaid orifice.

11. The invention of claim 10 in which said opening is provided with aflange and in which said annular member is formed with a resilient lipencompassing'said flange.

12. Clothes drying apparatus comprising, a perforate drum for receivingdamp fabrics, enclosure means enclosing said drum and defining a dryingchamber for said damp fabrics, means for evaporating moisture from saidfabrics, said enclosure means including a first wall provided with anopening therein, a second wall spaced from said first wall, a secondopening provided in said second wall in alignment with said firstopening, a scroll-shaped member spanning said first and second wallspartially around the peripheries of said first and second openings, saidscroll-shaped member cooperating with said first and second walls todefine a blower housing, a selectively removable plate connected to saidsecond wall and covering said second opening, a bearing in said plate,an impeller mounted within said scroll-shaped wall between said firstand second walls, a shaft journaled in said hearing and connected tosaid impeller for rotating said impeller to move air-borne lint andmoisture vapors from said drum into said blower housing through saidfirst opening, and conduit means for impinging cooling fluid againstsaid impeller during the rotation of said shaft to condense saidmoisture vapors and scrub lint from air entering said blower housingthrough said first opening.

13. Clothes drying apparatus comprising an imperforate casing havingfront and rear walls and a continuously formed side wall interconnectingsaid front and rear walls, a vertically extending partition locatedbetween front and rear walls for dividing said casing into front andrear chambers, a perforate clothes drum mounted for rotation in saidfront chamber, a rotatable shaft for mounting said clothes drum, an airinlet means interconnecting said rear chamber and said front chamher, anair outlet means interconnecting said front chamber and said rearchamber, means including a blower and duct means in said rear chamberfor circulating air between said outlet and inlet means in a closed pathduring the drying operation of said apparatus, thereby to pass airthrough said drum and dry the clothes therein, condensing means in saidrear chamber for condensing moisture from the moist air leaving saidfront chamber, and a heater means in said front chamber associated withsaid 1 1 inlet means for heating said air immediately before itre-enters said clothes drum.

14. Clothes drying apparatus comprising, an imperforate casing havingfront and rear walls and a generally tubular side wall interconnectingsaid front and rear walls, a vertically extending partition coactingwith said side wall to divide said easing into front and rear chambers,a perforate clothes drum mounted for rotation in said front chamber, aninlet means interconnecting said rear chamber and said front chamber, anair outlet means interconnecting said front chamber and said rearchamber, duct means for transporting air between said outlet and inletmeans, impeller means located between the rear wall and said partitionadjacent the outlet means for moving moisture vapors from said drumthrough said out let means, said duct means including a housing meanspartially enclosing said impeller means, conduit means for directing astream of water toward said impeller means such that said impeller meansatomizes said cold water and produces a fine mist for condensing saidmoisture vapor and scrubbing lint from the air passing from said drumthrough said outlet means, means for rotating said impeller means toproduce a unidirectional air flow from said drum, said outlet means,said duct means, said inlet means and back into said drum, and means forheating moisture free air for evaporating moisture from fabrics in saidclothes drum.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said heating means is located insaid front chamber and associated with said inlet means to heat themoisture free air immediately before it passes into said clothes drum.

16. In a clothes drying apparatus the combination comprising animperforate casing having front and rear walls interconnected by agenerally tubular side wall, a partition coacting with said side wallfor dividing said casing into a drying chamber and a compartment, arevoluble perforate clothes drum mounted for rotation about anon-vertical axis in said drying chamber, an air inlet meansinterconnecting said drying chamber and compartment, a vapor-condenserunit located in said compartment, means for circulating air and moisturevapors from said drying chamber into said compartment through said airinlet means, means for supplying condensing fluids to saidvapor-condenser unit for condensing the moisture vapor and scrubbinglint from the air circulated into said compartment from said dryingchamber by said latter means, means for conducting air to said dryingchamber, and means for heating the air conducted to said drying chamberin order to evaporate moisture from the fabrics within said perforateclothes drum.

17. In a clothes drying apparatus the combination comprising animperforate casing having front and rear walls interconnected by agenerally tubular side wall, a partition connected to said side wall forforming a drying chamber and compartment, said drying chamber andcompartment being sealed off from one another in the area of partitionand side wall attachment, a revoluble perforate clothes drum mounted forrotation about a non-vertical axis in said drying chamber, means forrotating said clothes drum, an air inlet means interconnecting saiddrying chamber and compartment, a vapor-condenser unit located in saidcompartment, impeller means for pumping air and moisture vapors throughsaid air inlet means from said drying chamber and through said vaporcondenser unit, means for supplying condensing fluids to saidvapor-condenser unit for condensing the moisture vapor and scrubbinglint from the air pumped through said compartment from said dryingchamber by said latter means, means for conducting air to said dryingchamber, and means for heating the air conducted to said drying chamberin order to evaporate moisture from the fabrics within said perforateclothes drum.

18. In a clothes drying apparatus the combination comprising animperforate casing having front and rear walls interconnected by acontinuously formed side wall, a partition coacting with said side wallfor dividing said easing into a front drying chamber and a rearcompartment, a revoluble perforate clothes drum mounted for rotationabout a non-vertical axis in said drying chamber, an air inlet meansinterconnecting said front drying chamber and rear compartment, ductmembers extending between, and joined to, said rear wall and saidpartition of said casing forming a vapor-condenser unit, means forcirculating air and moisture vapors from said front drying chamber intosaid rear compartment through said air inlet means, means for supplyingcondensing fluids to said vapor-condenser unit for condensing themoisture vapor and scrubbing lint from the air circulated through saidrear compartment from said drying chamber by said latter means, meansfor conducting air to said front drying chamber, and means for heatingthe air conducted to said front drying chamber in order to evaporatemoisture from the fabrics within said perforate clothes drum.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,598,032 Blomen May 27, 1952 2,619,737 Geldhof et al. Dec. 2, 19522,828,551 Conlee Apr. 1, 1958 2,892,335 Gray June 30, 1959

